Wallowa County Main Street Program - Public Meeting

Do Our Communities Need a County-Wide Main Street Program?

On May 4th and 5th a series of walking tours, conversations and a county-wide public meeting with Sheri Stuart, Manager of the Oregon Main Street Program, will explore the possibility of establishing a county-wide Regional Main Street Program. Benefits of a Main Street program include support for historic preservation, new businesses and downtown improvements; access to special funding; and a structure for collaborative efforts to increase livability and maintain vibrancy of small rural towns. Northeast Oregon Economic Development District (NEOEDD) and the Wallowa County Chamber of Commerce are conducting outreach and hosting activities to explore the feasibility of a Regional Main Street program in Wallowa County. Instead of being limited to one town, a regional Main Street structure allows a group of small rural communities to participate in Oregon Main Street programs with a single entity convening and managing the program for all the participating communities. There are several ways to participate:

• Take a short online survey, https://www.neoedd.org/wallowa-county-main-street/, to share information about plans, challenges and ideas for your business and/or community
• Join a walking tour with Sheri Stuart, NEOEDD staff, Chamber staff, and community members
  • Wednesday, May 4
    • Enterprise - 9AM, start @ Enterprise City Hall
    • Wallowa Lake - 1PM, start @ Wallowa Lake Lodge
    • Joseph - 3PM, start @ Joseph City Hall/Library
  • Thursday, May 5
    • Lostine - 11AM, start @ Lostine City Hall
    • Wallowa - 1PM, start @ Wallowa City Hall
• Attend a county-wide public meeting, Thursday, May 5th, 7PM @ Southfork Grange in Lostine (Rosewell St, blue and yellow house with grange logo)
• Request an interview with NEOEDD and answer a few questions about your interests and projects